Steroid-free glucocorticoid receptor binds specifically to mouse mammary tumour virus DNA

Steroid hormones are thought to modulate gene expression through their interaction with receptor proteins. The intracellular localization of unoccupied receptor proteins has been a subject of controversy: free glucocorticoid receptor appears to reside in the cytoplasm and moves to the cell nucleus only after binding the steroid. The purified hormone-bound glucocorticoid receptor has been shown to bind selectively to hormone regulatory elements (HRE) in the vicinity of hormonally-inducible promoters and, in particular, in the long terminal repeat (LTR) region of mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV). We have tackled the question of whether the hormone itself is required for the interaction of the receptor protein with the HRE. Using monoclonal antibodies to the receptor we find that upon heat-activation the steroid-free glucocorticoid receptor present in rat liver cytosol binds specifically in vitro to the HRE of MMTV. No qualitative differences in the DNaseI-footprints were detected when hormone-free receptor was compared to the hormone-receptor complex or even receptor complexed with the hormone antagonist RU486. We conclude that the steroid ligand is not an absolute requirement for generating the conformation of the glucocorticoid receptor that allows its interaction with the HRE in vitro. An alternative function of the hormone in vivo could be to modulate nuclear partitioning of the receptor.     

中孔Ag微米盘/ZnO纳米棒阵列异质结的构筑及光催化研究

利用简单的两步合成法制备得到新颖的中孔Ag微米盘（HMDs）/ZnO纳米棒（NRs）异质结,主要包括上晶种和异质外延生长.通过简单的合成参数调控,可以制备不同纳米直径、不同长度、不同形状的ZnO NRs,进而制成不同形貌的Ag/ZnO异质结.结构新颖的Ag/ZnO异质结由一维（1D）半导体和二维（2D）纳米结构元构成,Ag/ZnO异质结具有高比表面积和开放的空间结构,在光电领域具有很重要的应用潜力.在光催化测试中,Ag/ZnO异质结表现出优越的催化活性,主要归因于结构独特的Ag/ZnO异质结的协同效应.     

Oligomerization study of NHR3 and NHR4 domains from ETO protein involved in t（8;21）-associated acute myeloid leukemia

Little had been known about ETO protein until t(8;21) was found in 12%-15% of acute myeloid leukemia which resulted in AML1-ETO fusion protein. ETO protein has four conserved nervy homology regions termed NHR1-4. A lot have already been known about NHR1, 2, 4:NHR1 is homologous with the Drosophila TATA-box-associated factor 110 (TAF110); NHR2 is a dimerization domain associated with mSin3A/HDAC; NHR4 is MYND class of zinc fingers associated with NCoR/SMRT/HDAC. Only the function of NHR3 remains unclear. In order to investigate whether NHR3 domain could participate in oligomerization, we cloned and purified this domain. Through gel filtration chromatography, dynamic light scattering and dissolved crystal electrophoresis, we found that NHR3 domain was a tight tetramer. Then we cloned NHR3 4 domain (i.e. NHR3 domain plus NHR4 domain), and discovered, by gel filtration chromatography and native PAGE, that NHR3 4 domaincould form dimer in solution. This was the first time to observe that NHR3 and NHR4 domains may have some contribution to the oligomerization of ETO protein, which might recruit corepressors in the form of dimer, and stabilize ETO dimerization through convergent strength of NHR2, NHR3 and NHR4 domains and then stabilize corepressors recruitment. These speculations are very worthy of further evaluation.     

A nuclear-receptor-dependent phosphatidylcholine pathway with antidiabetic effects

Nuclear hormone receptors regulate diverse metabolic pathways and the orphan nuclear receptor LRH-1 (also known as NR5A2) regulates bile acid biosynthesis. Structural studies have identified phospholipids as potential LRH-1 ligands, but their functional relevance is unclear. Here we show that an unusual phosphatidylcholine species with two saturated 12 carbon fatty acid acyl side chains (dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC)) is an LRH-1 agonist ligand in vitro. DLPC treatment induces bile acid biosynthetic enzymes in mouse liver, increases bile acid levels, and lowers hepatic triglycerides and serum glucose. DLPC treatment also decreases hepatic steatosis and improves glucose homeostasis in two mouse models of insulin resistance. Both the antidiabetic and lipotropic effects are lost in liver-specific Lrh-1 knockouts. These findings identify an LRH-1 dependent phosphatidylcholine signalling pathway that regulates bile acid metabolism and glucose homeostasis.     

反式聚环戊烯橡胶在轮胎胎肩胶中的应用研究

对合成的3种不同相对分子质量的反式聚环戊烯橡胶（TPR）用于轮胎胎肩胶进行了研究,结果表明：与使用天然橡胶（NR）及顺丁橡胶（BR）/NR并用胶相比,TPR硫化胶的回弹性、老化性能、耐磨性和低温性能优异,耐疲劳性能好,动态生热低,滚动阻力小,抗湿滑性稍差,拉伸强度和撕裂性能较差;TPR/NR并用硫化胶与NR相比物理性能有所改善,耐老化性、耐磨性和低温性能优异,回弹性、耐疲劳性及动态生热相当,滚动阻力小,有较好的动态力学性能。相对分子质量较低的TPR2具有较佳的综合性能,TPR不适合单独应用于轮胎胎肩胶,其与NR并用具有较好效果。     

Sirt1 promotes fat mobilization in white adipocytes by repressing PPAR-gamma

Calorie restriction extends lifespan in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. In yeast, the SIR2 gene mediates the life-extending effects of calorie restriction. Here we show that the mammalian SIR2 orthologue, Sirt1 (sirtuin 1), activates a critical component of calorie restriction in mammals; that is, fat mobilization in white adipocytes. Upon food withdrawal Sirt1 protein binds to and represses genes controlled by the fat regulator PPAR-gamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma), including genes mediating fat storage. Sirt1 represses PPAR-gamma by docking with its cofactors NCoR (nuclear receptor co-repressor) and SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors). Mobilization of fatty acids from white adipocytes upon fasting is compromised in Sirt1+/- mice. Repression of PPAR-gamma by Sirt1 is also evident in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, where overexpression of Sirt1 attenuates adipogenesis, and RNA interference of Sirt1 enhances it. In differentiated fat cells, upregulation of Sirt1 triggers lipolysis and loss of fat. As a reduction in fat is sufficient to extend murine lifespan, our results provide a possible molecular pathway connecting calorie restriction to life extension in mammals.     

Molecular characterization of the melanin-concentrating-hormone receptor.

Orphan G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cloned proteins with structural characteristics common to the GPCRs but that bind unidentified ligands. Orphan GPCRs have been used as targets to identify novel transmitter molecules. Here we describe the isolation from brain extracts and the characterization of the natural ligand of a particular orphan GPCR (SLC-1) that is sequentially homologous to the somatostatin receptors. We show that the natural ligand of this receptor is the neuropeptide melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH). MCH is a cyclic peptide that regulates a variety of functions in the mammalian brain, in particular feeding behaviour. We demonstrate that nanomolar concentrations of MCH strongly activate SLC-1-related pathways through G(alpha)i and/or G(alpha)q proteins. We have analysed the tissue localization of the MCH receptor and find that it is expressed in several brain regions, in particular those involved in olfactory learning and reinforcement mechanisms, indicating that therapies targeting the MCH receptor should act on the neuronal regulation of food consumption.     

基于分子对接探究熊果酸衍生物H21对引起炎症的关键蛋白的作用

利用分子对接方法,探究 H21 对分泌炎症因子的关键蛋白的影响. 从引起炎症的经典通路中选取关键靶蛋白,通过Glide分子对接,将 H21 和原配体、靶蛋白对接. 通过二者对接得到分值,筛选与 H21 结合较好的靶蛋白及关键氨基酸,并分析其二者的相互作用. 结果显示: H21 与Toll-like通路中关键蛋白IRAK1蛋白结合较好,Glide-gscore为-9.873, 优于原配体, H21 与IRAK1结合的关键氨基酸为Ile218;理论数据表明:抗炎药物 H21 可能作用于IRAK1蛋白,通过影响IRAK1蛋白的表达,从而发挥抗炎作用,为揭示 H21 的抗炎机制和作用靶点提供了理论依据.